Amphetamines are stimulant drugs that increase users’ energy and focus. When taken as prescribed, medications like Adderall can be beneficial for people with conditions like ADHD and narcolepsy, helping them stay alert and concentrate on tasks. However, drugs in this category also have a high potential for misuse and addiction, due to their effects on the brain. Learn how these drugs affect your physical and mental health and what to expect if you are trying to end a dependence on amphetamines.
How Do Amphetamines Work?
As central nervous system stimulants, amphetamines activate receptors in the brain, increasing the activity of neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine.
- Norepinephrine plays a role in your innate stress response and helps regulate sleep, alertness and blood pressure.
- Dopamine affects motivation, perception and the ability to experience pleasure.
Amphetamines act on the brain’s reward system by releasing a flood of neurotransmitters. Over time, amphetamine use essentially retrains your brain to expect the heightened sensations it associates with stimulants, creating a powerfully pleasurable link to the behavior. At this point, the progression from tolerance to dependence to addiction can increase rapidly. Eventually, the brain begins to rely on amphetamines to function normally,
Amphetamine Side Effects and Consequences
While Adderall and Ritalin are legal to take under a doctor’s direction and supervision, some people use these medications without a prescription, which is against the law. Methamphetamines are an example of an illegal stimulant people might take in hopes of experiencing a high.
Over time, legal or illicit stimulant use can lead to physical and behavioral changes such as:
- Dangerously low or high blood pressure
- Abdominal pain and digestive issues, including nausea and appetite loss
- Profuse sweating
- Skin concerns like rashes and hives
- Dry mouth
- Nosebleeds
- Teeth grinding
- Anxiety, irritability and feelings of being on edge
- Unpredictable mood swings
- Insomnia
- Obsessive behaviors and tics
What Happens When You Stop Using Amphetamines?
If you become physically or psychologically dependent on amphetamines, you may experience uncomfortable consequences when you run out of drugs or purposely stop taking them, including flu-like body aches, agitation, nightmares, depression and anxiety. These unpleasant amphetamine withdrawal symptoms can lead you back to drug use, even if you had previously committed to quitting.
For women who have experienced the discomfort of amphetamine withdrawal and other adverse effects of stimulant use in their lives, a qualified treatment program can help. Women tend to face unique obstacles in addiction and recovery, including societal stigmas that can be challenging to overcome. That’s why a single-gender environment can be so beneficial in amphetamine rehab.
Learn More About Women’s-Only Drug Treatment
If you are looking for a place to start healing your body, mind and spirit from amphetamine abuse or a dual diagnosis, let Canyon Crossing Recovery be your partner. We welcome women at all stages of life with customized treatment plans that take your unique needs into account. In our unique setting, you will feel compassion and love instead of judgment and isolation. For more information about our continuum of care in Prescott, Arizona, please contact us today.
